Northwestern was able to break its 12 game losing streak this past Sunday when they beat Nebraska for a second time this season. Although the Wildcats have had their struggles over conference play eight of their 16 conference losses have come by single digits. Making it important that Wisconsin handles their business against the Wildcats instead of looking ahead to Saturday with their game against Indiana.
In this Badgers Wire feature, we will look at the three keys or questions for Wisconsin as they prepare to play Northwestern on Wednesday.
LAYUP: CAN WISCONSIN CONSISTENTLY ATTACK THE GLASS?
One area where Wisconsin should have success against the Wildcats is being able to attack the glass.
Considering Northwestern is being outrebounded by conference opponents by an average of 8.4 rebounds a game as the Wildcats are allowing 40.3 rebounds a game.
Making it important that Wisconsin is active once a shot goes up and finds a way to come down with it to either give themselves a second chance on offense or to limit the Wildcats to one shot per possession.
Wisconsin this season is averaging 32.4 rebounds a game and 7.8 of those rebounds are coming on the offensive glass.
Wisconsin’s ability to generate second-chance points will allow for Wisconsin not only to build a lead over the Wildcats but also allow for Wisconsin to dictate how the game is played.
MID-RANGE: THE PLAY OF NATE REUVERS
After stringing together 10 games over an 11 game stretch in double figures Reuvers over the last two games has averaged four points and has shot a combined 2-for-7 from the field and has played 20 minutes or less in both games.
Reuvers ability to bounce back against Northwestern on Saturday will be able to help open up other scoring opportunities for his teammates and him to stretch the floor.
Wisconsin over its current six-game winning streak is averaging 20 points in the paint. If Wisconsin can get the basketball down low to Reuvers or Micah Potter should lead to quality looks from 3-point range.
Reuvers has shown his ability to stretch the floor but he hasn’t attempted a three over the last two games and on the season is shooting 32.9 percent (28-for-85) from three.
Reuvers along with his teammates should be able to generate quality looks from three if they stay patient on offense. Considering the Wildcats are allowing conference opponents to shoot 34.9 percent (162-for-464) from three.
The quality looks they generate from three will begin with generating post touches to Reuvers in order to make the Wildcats defense have to account for everyone on the offensive side of the floor for the Badgers.
3-POINTER: LIMITING MILLER KOPP FROM THREE
Miller Kopp has been Northwestern’s most consistent 3-point shooter over conference play. Kopp’s 101 3-point attempts lead the conference as he’s shooting 38.6 percent (39-for-101) from three over conference play.
The Badgers defensively can’t lose him in transition as he’ll make the Badgers defense pay if he has an open three.
If you take away Miller’s success from three over conference play than Northwestern as a team is shooting 28.5 percent (70-for-245) from three.
Making it important that whoever does draw the defensive assignment against Kopp finds a way to make sure he can’t consistently get an open look as he’s averaging 5.6 3-point attempts a game.
Not to mention he has made at least one three in every game this year except for two games and against Maryland, he went 0-for-5 on his 3-point attempts.
If Wisconsin is going to build a lead over Northwestern early in the game it will begin with making sure Miller can’t generate a rhythm from 3-point range. He’s going to get his attempts up from three but the Badgers will need to do a good job of contesting each one. If they can neutralize Kopp’s ability from three the Badgers will have a chance of leading for a majority of the game.